Hare Rama Hare Krishna - take another toke of a Bollywood classic!
Hare Rama Hare Krishna (available here on Jaman to our users in all countries) is one of the great Bollywood classics. Directed by and starring the Bollywood screen idol Dev Anand, it’s the tale of a brother’s desperate attempt to save his sister from the decadent embrace of a 1960s psychedelic set.
As is often the case with art in any media with this kind of moral conflict, the side of the devils is seductively rendered. The conflict between righteousness and sin is expressed throughout the film with its songs (by the renowned and prolific Bollywood composer R.D. Burman), but if the songs were the only deciding factor in the battle, sin would win hands down.
And it’s thanks to “Dum Maro Dum.”
Sung by the sister at the height of a decadent, drug-fuelled party, “Dum Maro Dum” (trans. – “take another toke”) is one of the most popular Bollywood songs. It’s performed with ecstatic abandon by renowned playback singer Asha Bhosle, who picked up a Filmfare Award for her performance of the track. The song’s non-Western rhythmic times and out-of-nowhere backing vocals, as well as its unrepentant lyrical content, have made it a cult favorite. It’s probably one of the most well-known Bollywood tracks outside of cinema – various DJs in India and the UK continue to sample it, as did American rapper Method Man. (Indeed, this writer’s first exposure to it came on the Radio del Mundo station in the video game Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.)
It’s hard to overstate the popularity of this track, so perhaps its best that you simply experience it for yourself, in its original habitat. “Dum Maro Dum” and Hare Rama Hare Krishna can be enjoyed by the sinful and the righteous alike. It’s a perfect film for the weekend – enjoy!
